Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

कृत्वा स्थेयं च तत्रैव धैर्यमास्थाय वै पुनः । अर्घं पात्रं तथा चैकं जलगंधाक्षतैर्युतम्

Transliteration

kṛtvā stheyaṃ ca tatraiva dhairyamāsthāya vai punaḥ | arghaṃ pātraṃ tathā caikaṃ jalagaṃdhākṣatairyutam

Translation

Nachdem man dort selbst standhaft verweilt und erneut feste Sammlung gewonnen hat, soll man dann ein einziges Arghya-Gefäß bereiten—mit Wasser gefüllt, wohlriechend gemacht und mit Akṣata (ungebrochenen Reiskörnern) versehen—um es in Śivas Verehrung darzubringen.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• स्थेयम्: one should remain/stand
• स्थेयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stheya (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive: ‘to be stood/remained’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेयभावे (impersonal injunction)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed, right there
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness, courage
• धैर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhairya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having adopted, having taken up
• आस्थाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund) with आ-उपसर्ग; ‘having resorted to/assuming’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• पुनः: again, thereafter
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अर्घम्: arghya-offering (respectful offering)
• अर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: argha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• पात्रम्: vessel
• पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with पात्रम्)

• जल-गन्ध-अक्षतैः: with water, fragrance, and unbroken rice-grains
• जल-गन्ध-अक्षतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (जलम्, गन्धः, अक्षताः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• युतम्: joined with, furnished with
• युतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuta (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with पात्रम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating Śiva-pūjā procedure as taught within Rudrasaṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not site-specific; it codifies arghya preparation as a respectful upacāra in Śiva-pūjā, aligning bodily steadiness (stheya) and mental composure (dhairya) with ritual correctness.

Significance: Highlights that pilgrimage is completed by inner steadiness and disciplined offering; arghya symbolizes honoring Pati as the supreme guest (atithi) and king (īśvara).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It links outer worship with inner sādhana: steadiness (stheya) and composure (dhairya) are prerequisites for offering, teaching that devotion to Śiva becomes fruitful when the mind is stabilized and reverent.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Arghya is a formal upacāra (service) offered to Saguna Śiva—often to the Śiva-liṅga—using sanctified water with fragrance and akṣata, expressing honor and welcome to the Lord present in the worship-form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Ritually, prepare an arghya vessel with water, perfume, and akṣata; meditatively, cultivate dhairya and stillness before the offering—ideally while remembering Śiva and repeating a Śaiva mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").